Engine drier plug



May 11, 1965 CIGLIANO ENGINE DRIER PLUG Filed Nov. 20. 1961 INVENTOR.

lRVINC CIGLIANO ATTORNEY United States Patent 3,182,436 ENGINE DRIERPLUG Irving Cigliano, 566 Bothncr Sh, Oceanside, N.Y. Filed Nov. 29,1961, Ser. N0. 153,615 3 Claims. (Ci. 55-387) This invention isconcerned with a device for drying up moisture from the cylinders ofinternal combustion engines during the time such engines are in storage.

The general purpose of the invention is to prevent rust, scale, andother harmful substances from developing in the cylinders of suchengines from moisture. I

Inasmuch as vessels carrying marine inboard engines are usually storedor placed in dry dock near bodies of water, the cylinders of suchengines are continuously subject to'dampness. Accordingly, while thedevice of the present invention may find use with various internalcombustion engines, it is particularly useful in association withinboard internal combustion marine engines.

A further object of this invention is to provide practical and efficientmeans for drying up moisture from, and maintaining free of moisture thecylinders of internal combustion engines, particularly inboard marineengines, during the period such engines are in storage.

A more particular object of the invention is to provide a device for theforegoing purpose, which may be plugged into the open tail end of thegas exhaust pipe of the engine. a

In accordance with the invention there is provided a device having atubular portion containing a suitable moisture absorbing agent andhaving a coned portion extending from one end of the tubular portion,the tubular portion being adapted to be freely inserted into the opentail end of the gas exhaust pipe of an internal combustion engine, theconed portion being adapted to be plugged into the said open end to sealit against the entrance of air, and the tubular portion having openingstherein which allow access of air within the pipe to con tact themoisture absorbing agent, the latter agent having a strong afiinity formoisture, whereby air laden moisture in the exhaust pipe and in thecylinders of the engine is drawn to the absorbing agent within thetubular portion of the device.

The invention further lies not only in its particular structure, butalso in the mode of its employment to effect the benefits and objectsintended herein.

The foregoing and other objects and advantages of this invention willappear more fully hereinafter from a consideration of the detaileddescription which follows, taken together with the accompanyingdrawings, wherein the invention is illustrated. It is to be expresslyunderstood, however, that the drawings are for the purposes ofillustration and description, and are not to be construed as definingthe limits of the invention.

In the accompanying drawings,

FIG. 1 is a longitudinal section through the device illustrating theinvention, and shows the invention in association with the exhaust pipeof an internal combustion engine;

FIG. 2 is a plan view of the tube apart from the other components of thedevice; and

FIG. 3 is a sectional view of a modified form of the device.

In the drawings is disclosed an engine drier plug or moisture absorbingdevice 1 which is adapted to be plugged into the open tail end 2 of thegas exhaust pipe 3 of an internal combustion engine, particularly theexhaust pipe of an inboard marine engine, not shown.

The device 1 includes an elongated tube 4 containing a suitable moistureabsorbing agent or desiccant 5, which may be a material known as SilicaGel, or other desiccant 3,182,436 Patented May 11, 19565 ice having astrong afiinity for moisture. A removable cap 6 closes over the forwardend of the tube. The cap may be manually removed when it is desired toreplace the drying agent with a fresh supply. The rear end of the tubehas a tight fit in a complementary axial recess 7 formed in the taperedend 8 of a coned plug 9. A partition wall 10 which divides the recess 7off from an outer coned recess 11 closes over and abuts the rear end ofthe tube. The tube has a plurality of small holes 12 in the upper areathereof. These allow moisture laden air to enter the interior of thetube to contact the moisture drying agent. Upon such contact the air isdried out or deprived of its moisture.

The device is intended for use in drawing and drying up moisture fromthe cylinders, particularly of inboard internal combustion marineengines, while such engines are out of the water for an appreciablelength of time. In using the device, the tube portion 4 is insertedwithin its perforated area 12 uppermost into the open tail end 2 of theexhaust pipe 3, the exhaust pipe being associated through the usualexhaust valves with the cylinders of the engine. The coned plug portion9 is pressed tightly into the open end 2 to seal the latter against theentrance of air. The diameter of the tube 4 is less than that of thecylindrical exhaust pipe 3 in which it is inserted, so that it will bedisposed therein clear of the surrounding wall of the pipe. The minordiameter of the coned plug is less than that of the open end 2 of thepipe, and the major diameter 13 is greater than that of the latter,whereby the coned plug is enabled to be entered partway into the pipeand wedged fast therein. The coned plug is preferably formed ofresilient material such as rubber, whereby it will provide a tight gripwith the pipe. The outer coned recess has various advantages. It servesas an aid in obtaining a tight fit of the plug in the open end of thepipe. In this respect, after the tube end of the device has beeninserted into the pipe, and after the plug has been manually pressedpartway into the pipe, the fit of the plug may be further tightened byinserting a ram into the outer recess 11 and pressing the ram forcefullyagainst the partition wall 14). The recess 11 also serves as an aid inremoving the tightly fitted plug from the pipe. In this respect, theuser is able to grip the coned plug between the thumbs and forefingers,the thumbs extending into the recess and the forefingers extending overthe outside of the plug. By gripping the plug in this manner the usermay pull outwardly on the plug with both hands.

During the time that the device is plugged into the exhaust pipe, thedrying agent, having a strong affinity for moisture, draws the moisturefrom the air within the pipe and also from the cylinders of the engine,the cylinders being connected with the exhaust pipe through the exhaustvalves. It is understood that at any particular time only some of theexhaust valves are open to the exhaust pipe. Hence, from time to timethe user may turn the engine so as to insure association of all of thecylinders with the exhaust pipe, and as a consequence with the effectsof the device 1. It is preferable that the usual air intake means to thecylinders be covered over, as by a suitable covering, so as to prevententrance of air into the cylinders during the time that the device 11 isbeing used.

It is to be noted that the tube portion 4 is disposed in the exhaustpipe 3 in such manner that the area of the tube containing the holes 12is uppermost. This method of use enables excessive moisture accumulatingin the tube to be retained therein. However, it is preferable that whenthe device is to be used with an engine that is remain in storage for anextended period, that the drying agent be replaced with a fresh supplyfrom time to time.

- as A further feature of the coned plug portion 9 of the device is thatits minor diameter is less than that of the smallest diameter exhaustpipe in use withv conventional inboard marine engines, and the majordiameter of the plug portion is greater than that of the largestdiameter pipe inuse with said engines.

FIGURE 3 in the drawing discloses a modified form of'the device which isconstructed entirely of plastic: In,

this form the plug portion 14 and the tube portion 15 are integral withone another; and the cap element 16 is Welded to the tube portion, thedrying agent 17 having been first'entered into the tube portion. Thismodified form of the invention is relatively inexpensive, and ac.-cordingly the device may be discarded after it has been used.

While the invention has been illustrated and described above in detail,it is to be expressly understood that the invention is not limitedthereto. Various changes can be made in the design of the parts withoutdeparting from the spirit and scope of the invention. It is my intent,therefore, to claim the invention not only as shown above and described,but also in all such forms and' modifications thereof as may bereasonably construed to fall within the spirit of the invention and thescope of the appended claims.

Whatis claimed is:

1. A device for drying air moisture in a cylindricalv pipe, comprising aresilient coned frustum adapted to be plugged in part into an open endof the pipewith its minor diameter end foremost, the coned frustumhaving an axial recess extending therein from its minor diameter end, anelongated tube seated and closed at one end in the axial recess andclosedat its opposite end, a moisture absorbent disposed in the interiorof the tube, and a plurality of'holes in the tube communicating with theinterior thereof.

2. A device for drying up air moisture in a cylindrical pipe, comprisinga resilient coned hollow frustum portion adapted to be plugged in partinto an open end of a pipe with its minor diameter end foremost, anelongated tube portion extending axially from the minor diameter end ofthe coned frustum and being integral therewith, the free endtof the tubeportion being closed, a partition Wall extending transversely of theinterior of the hollow frustum portion closing over the opposite end ofthe tube portion, a plurality of holes in the side'area of the tubeportion communicating with the interior of the latter, and a moistureabsorbent disposed within the interior of the tube portion.- V

3. In :cornbina'tion with acylindrical pipe, a device for drying up airmoisture within the pipe, comprising a resilient hollow coned frustumplugged in part in an open end of the pipe with its minor diameter endforemost, the coned frustum having an elongated tubular container meansextending forwardly from the minor diameter end thereof into the pipe, amoisture absorbent Within the tubular container means, the tubularcontainer means having a plurality of holes in its side wall areacommunicating with the interior thereof, and Wall means closing overopposite ends of the tubular container.

References Cited byithe Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,425,197 8/22'Hamlin -387 1,637,656 8/ 27 Radcliffe 55384 2,317,882 4/43 BOeSel312-311 X 2,335,901 12/43 Ayers 55387 2,557,277 6/51 Gibson a 55-3872,671,526 3/54 'Huntet al. 55- 387 699,287 1/55 Daninhirsch 55-3872,728,407 12/55 Squier- 2 55-387 2,813,010 11/57 Hutchins 5573 REUBENFRIEDMAN, Primary Examiner.

1. A DEVICE FOR DRYING AIR MOISTURE IN A CYLINDRICAL PIPE, COMPRISING ARESILIENT CONED FRUSTUM ADAPTED TO BE PLUGGED IN PART INTO AN OPEN ENDOF THE PIPE WITH ITS MINOR DIAMETER END FOREMOST, THE CONED FRUSTUMHAVING AN AXIAL RECESS EXTENDING THEREIN FROM ITS MINOR DIAMETER END, ANELONGATED TUBE SEATED AND CLOSED AT ONE END IN THE AXIAL RECESS ANDCLOSED AT ITS OPPOSITE END, A MOISTURE ABSORBENT DISPOSED IN THEINTERIOR OF THE TUBE, AND A PLURALITY OF HOLES IN THE TUBE COMMUNICATINGWITH THE INTERIOR THEREOF.